[Method for the study of pulmonary function in laryngectomized patients].

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study is to develop a instrumental method capable to achieve pulmonary air function test (spirometry) by assembling the spirometer mouthpiece to the laryngectomized patient's stoma. MATERIAL AND METHOD Our study was carried out in 33 laryngectomized patients (all male). The spirometer tests were done with a Datospir 92 by Sibelmed equipment, which consists of a dry Fleish pneumotacographer with flow and volume chart register. We have made a stoma-spirometer adapter with a cardboard tube, an adhesive and silicone disc. RESULTS The whole sample achieved excellent outcome with the stoma-spirometer adapter. Nor air leak neither high resistence were measured while spirometry was performed. CONCLUSIONS We consider that the facts studied may enable us to add, pragmatically, new resources to the more effective understanding of the respiratory handicap in the laryngectomized population.